Self yew English longbow set?? [PICS ADDED] [maker has replied!]

[nineworlds9]

I recently acquired a beautiful self yew English longbow, 72" unstrung, 68" strung at fistmele, draws 64# @ 28".  The maker described the bow as having "a couple inches of stringfollow/just the right amount"...I got it and it seemed good to go, shot it several sessions, always unstrung and stored properly.  The maker only lives 3 hours away so climate is not an issue.  The bow seems to have nice cast and shoots quietly.  Anyway, after shooting it for a week I decided to measure the stringfollow myself, drawing a straight line from nock to nock and then measuring from that line to the belly of the grip-  3.5-3.75"...  I've heard 3" is about max desired.  I need some expert advice.

***UPDATE!:  I have been in communication with the maker of the bow and he has enlightened me on a few things regarding the stave and bow which have laid my concerns to rest.  Scroll to the 2nd page to see what he had to say.  This is the type of person I always hope I do business with.  "Luna" is here to stay and I will get on with shooting her                          


On the floor, measured 3.5" from floor to back of grip, overnight after shooting:
       

       

[Pat B]

Generally 2" to 3" is considered acceptable and makes a smoother shooting bow. I'd say 3.5" to 3.75" is a bit excessive...but if the bow shoots well and you enjoy shooting it then I wouldn't worry about it.
 Depending on why the bow has that much set(overstressed while building, too wet while building) you might be able to reduce the set some with heat and a form.

[nineworlds9]

Yes the bow shoots very well in my opinion.  It is one of the quietest bows I've ever shot actually.  The maker shipped it with a fastflight string.  From my research fastflight seems to be ok on selfbows.  This wouldn't affect stringfollow would it?  I could replace the string with Dacron but its so stretchy...  Would the form/heat just involve strapping the bow with some backset tension and then heating?

[nineworlds9]

I measured it again and it's right at 3.5" belly of grip to line formed by the nock grooves.

[Pat B]

Lay the bow on its back and measure the distance between the tips and the table top. Where is most of the set, near handle or mid limb?
 If you like the way it shoots I wouldn't do anything but shoot it.   If the bowyer used FF string it should be OK. I have 2 osage bows that Dano made for me and both have FF string and neither have tip overlays. No problems with them.

[nineworlds9]

Gotcha.  I laid it on its back like you said and measured from the floor surface to the nock groove...I got 4.5" on the top nock and 4" on the bottom nock.  And yes, the set seems to really get going about mid limb..lying on its back the handle and riser area seem relatively flat.  If you take the 4/4.5" figures I got measuring tip-floor while on its back and subtract the handle thickness you get a net of approx. 3 1/8" on the top limb and 2 5/8" on the bottom limb?? Perhaps the set being mostly mid limb is a good thing?  I will post some pics.

[nineworlds9]

also, was reading in the TBB vol. 3 that perhaps it might be a good idea to secure the string to the top nock and use the top limb as the fulcrum end when doing step through since its more flexible if tillered standard...might go easier on the future set.

[vanillabear?]

[nineworlds9]

Haha, it IS really easy to string.

[Pat B]

If you are unhappy you should return it. I think the builder misrepresented the amount of set. 4" to 4.5 " is too much IMO. Will it stop there? Who knows.

[nineworlds9]

So Pat you're saying the measurement I got laying it on it's back and measuring floor to tips (4"/4.5") is a more accurate figure for the set than the measurement of 3.5" from floor to back of grip when resting on the tips, belly down?  

I'm not unhappy with it per se, as I said, it shoots nicely..accurate and nice cast, VERY quiet, though mild handshock...as you said I should prolly just shoot it and enjoy it.  This inquiry relates heavily to the fact that I'm in the middle of reading TTBB vol. 1-3 right now, haha.

I scaled the bow, my scale isn't super accurate, but it does pull somewhere right around 62-65# and the maker rated it 64 @28 so that part is true.  The set only changes about 1/4" between rest and stringing shooting, hence my original post of 3.5"-3.75" measured at the handle...3.5" being the 'overnight figure' and 3.75" being the just after shooting/unstringing figure.  

Unfortunately, I must confess this was an e#$y purchase, so return is not an option.  It was only the second bow I've ever bought there.  Caveat emptor, haha...but the price and feedback seemed to indicate it was the real thing, as was when I learned who the maker was, won't name him here..nice guy, but..

Anyway, it certainly wasn't prohibitively expensive, so I will just bite the bullet and enjoy.  I'm just trying to increase my knowledge and understanding of what makes a good bow more than anything.

[George Tsoukalas]

Leave it. Enjoy your bow. Fixing collapsed belly wood cells is almost impossible.

I gave a friend an osage bow a few years ago. He discussed some "changes" with me. I told him not to do it. That every decision I made had a reason. The next time I asked him how he was enjoying the bow. He sheepishly smiled and looked away. That was a nice shooting bow too.
Jawge

[nineworlds9]

Cool beans Jawge.  In all honesty it is a beautiful bow.  Lots of character..the limbs twist opposite ways and it has one nice big knot and a few smaller ones...all have been drilled and filled in a way that seems appropriate.  The yew glows and looks to have somewhere around 30-40 rings/inch.  I'd say you're right.  Shoot the $%^tch, hehe, and as long as I'm hitting what I wanna hit don't complain.  

[tenbrook]

Its FINE and looks to be a very nice bow!

Enjoy it!

[nineworlds9]

   

[vanillabear?]

[nineworlds9]

Thanks Vanilla, she is pretty, set or not.  Originally I was bragging on her in PowWow.  The moisture thing sounds plausible.  I wouldn't mind if she gained a few pounds (LoL) as she dries.  I sent an inquiry to the maker, maybe he'll humor me with some more info about the build.  She does seem to have a nice tiller.  I think I'm gonna call her 'Luna' for her crescent shape  

[Osagetree]

I would think that natural deflex is the reason.

[nineworlds9]

Originally posted by Osagetree:
I would think that natural deflex is the reason.

Osage, someone on Primitive Archer mentioned this possibility.  That didn't occur to me, as while I'm not a novice archer I'm a novice to bowyering topics.  I'm devouring TBB Vol.1-3 with gusto.  If the theory of natural deflex in the stave is correct, the bow would have at most 0.5" of actual set.  This would be consistent with the measurements I've gotten...the 3.5" figure after resting and the max 3.75" I noted immediately after shooting/unstringing.  I hope the maker gets back to me and sheds some light on these possibilities.  In the meantime "Luna" is going to get more range time  

[Pat B]

Nineworld, both measurements should be the same with the possible exception the physical weight of the bow brought it down a bit the way you measures. You are measuring to see how much deflex is in the limbs and both ways do that. The most amount of set is the actual measurement no matter how you measure it.